Berth ladder for sleeping cars



Nov. 8, 1932. w. s. GORDON 1,387,301

BERTH LADER FOR SLEEPING CARS*y Filed March 25, 1951 2 Sheets-,Sheet 5 1 .Inventar 9 By @mm J n Attorney Nov. 8, 1932. w. s GORDON BERTH LADDER-FOR SLEEPING CARS Filed March 25,` 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor S Gordan Patented Nov. 8i, 1932 UNITED' Asi'rAT-Es PATENT osi-ics Y-WIILLIAMI S. GORDON, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNO-R "OF ONE-FOURTH TO MACK ATKINS AND ONE-FOURTH TO BENJAMN MISSISSIPPI l A. GREEN, BOTH 0F MOUND IBA'YO'U,

v BERTH LADDER FOR SLEEPING CARS Application led March 25, 1931. Serial No. 525,237.

This invention relates to new and useful` berth thereof. The primary object-of the in# vention resides in the provision of a ladder Structure that is permanently associated with an upper berth of a sleeping car and that may be readily folded and swungv into the upper berth when the same is drawn up against the roof of the car so as not to be in the wav when the berths are not being used.

further and important object resides 1n the provision of a ladder of this construction that may be moved a predetermined extent throughout the length of the upper berth and that includes means forlocking the ladder against collapsed condition when the same 1s 1n use.

A further and important obj ect is to pro'- vide a ladder construction of this character that is relatively simple in construction, 1nexpensive of manufacture and one that may be readily associatedy with upper berths of sleeping cars in a simple and easy manner, and this without altering the "construction of said berths to any extent whatever.

With the foregoing and other objects inv view as the nature of the invention will'be better understood, the same comprises the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed. In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views: p

Figure l isa front Velevation of my 1mproved ladder as actually associated with an upper berth of a sleeping car, the outer wall of said upper-berth being partially broken away for more clearly disclosingthe longitudinal Supportingbar with which the upper end of the improved ladder is pivotally associated. A y* Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse section throughv theupper berth structure for disclosing my improved ladder in side elevation. Y Y

Figure 3 is a front elevation ofthe ladder incollapsed andraised position just prior to being sw-ungover into the. upper berth unit.

Figure is a side elevation of the upperl berth ,disclosing the ladder in dotted'lines having been swungover into position therein so as to facilitate the swinging Vof the upper berth against the carceiling.

`Figuren is a fragmentary transverse Section through the outer side of the upper berth disclosing the ladder as having-been'swung into position therein. 1 f 1 j Y Figure 6 is anrenlarged fragmentary rear side elevation of theladder structure for more clearly disclosing the means for securing the ladder yagainst collapsing, there'being com,- plemental to saidmeans a swinging latch -to facilitate vthe locking ofthe means so asto prevent the accidental collapsingof the ladder when in use. f

Figure v7 is a" perspectiveof 'one of the ladderbar attachingbrackets for the inner face of the outer sidewall of the upper berth structurel. l Y

`Figure 8is a fragmentary elevation of One side of theladder for disclosing more clearly 7 the swinging latch unit or securing thev ladder locking .element in operative position.k Y

Figure v9 is a perspective Y of a modified means of attachmentlof the ladder to the upper berth. 'f l Now having vparticular reference to the drawings, A designates generally a single uppergberthl frame of the conventional design of sleeping car with which the presentV lad-y der structure'fis associated. Arranged upon the inner face of the inner side wall of this upper berth fram-e is a pair of longitudinally spaced bracket plates 5 5, the upper edges of which are formed with inwardly extending longitudinal sleeves 6, withinl which are sevycurely arranged the oppositev ends of ahorizontal ladder attac'hingbar'. The ladder construction, per se consists of a pair of legs 8 8 of predeterminedplength and preferably of Lp-bar configuration as disclosed in the main view. These legs 8 8 are joined by metallic L-bars for providing spaced rungs 9, the oppositeends-thereof being pivoted to the legs 8 8 so as to-permit the said legs to be swung toward each other when-itis desired to col# lapse the same, the outer ends of the back wall of these rungs being rounded as clearly disclosed in Figure 1 so as to facilitate their pivotal action with respect to the legs when said legs are folded.

Pivotally secured to the lowerends of these legs 8`8 are inwardly extending Vbracing straps 10-10 the extreme inner endsof which are bent downwardlyfor providing'feet 10a K forfrest uponV thercar licor adjacent the lower feet units B-B of the lower berth construction. v n

The invention further consists of a double goose neck 11, the inner'wsingle endfbei-ng.,

formed with a sleeve 12 for sliding engagement upon the horizontal berth framey carrying Vbar 7, the necks of this unit divergingy outwardly and being pivoted to theinnerside ofthe angle bar' legs 8--8, as 'clearly disclosed in both Figures '1 andV 2. The upper endY of the outer side of one of the legs is formed with a slot'13 so as to permit-this end of theleg to swing lbeyond its associated goose y neck when the legs 8*-8 are swung upwardlyinto the position disclosed Figure 3. Gbviously this particular attachment between the ladder andthe'frame A'of the upper berth will permit/the ladder'tov be readily moved longitudinally tothe desired point with re- Y spect to the berth.l

oted to the respective-leg 8'alatch dogr17` notchedatits lower endfas at18 for receivingA the finger 415`V of the arml 14 whenthe same is swungrdownwardly as indicated by the curvedline in Figure 6.v Obviously this dog will prevent 'the upward swinging ofthey armlet and the consequentdisengagement of the' finger l5 from the slot 16 in the leg 8 so that while.V in engagement therein itwill be impossible to collapse the leg to the position Vdisclosed in Figure 3.

After the ladder has been collapsedand extendedinto the raised horizontal position `shown in Figure S'byreason ofthe goose neck connection between the ladder and the horizontal supporting bar, the entire ladder together with the gooseA neck-may be swung over into the frame A as indicated bythe arrow in Figure 2. n

In FigureV 9 the berth attaching bar is designated 7"and the endsxthereof are formed with inwardly offset attaching brackets 54-5 forfacilitating the attachment' of the barl to theupper berthA' in yan obvious man'- ner. Loosely slidable on this bar is a sleeve 10 formed with an upwardly extending plate 11 to which is rigidly secured a horizontal flat-like bar 12. Rigidly secured to the opposite ends of this bar 12 are the inner short ends of a pair'of goose necks 1313 which extend outwardly of theupper berth'A and to the opposite ends of which are pivoted the upper ends of the ladder legs 8.-8,.

It will thus be seenthat Ihave provided `a highly novel, simple, and efiicientlladder t for thel upper berths of sleeping cars'that is well adapted'forall the purposes heretofore designated;v Evenwthough I have herein shown and described the invention asconsistin'g of certain detailstructural elements it is nevertheless tobe understood Y'that 'some changes'may be made therein without aect ing the spirit and scope of the` appended claims. K i

Having thusdescribed the invention, whatV I claim is:

' l. In a. ladder for sleeping car upper berths,- a horizontal supporting bar arranged within'the upper: berthadjacent the outer side thereof, a goose'neck Ahaving one double end and one single end, asliding and 'pivotal connection *between the' single end ofr the goose neck and said bar, aladder; including a pairofside legs -pivotally attached fattheii;Y upper ends to the double ends of :saidigoose' neck which extend overand outofftheupperz berth, rungs pivotally secured at their oppo site ends to said legs for 'facilitating the upward swinging of the.; legs upon' the goose' neck and-their movement towardeach other,v and readily releasable meansy for securing ther legs against swinging movement with respect to said goose neck; -v -Y 2. In a y ladder forv sleeping carz upper berths, a horizontal supporting bar arrangedv within the upper: berth adjacent the outer side thereof, a goose neck 'having'one double' end andone'single end, Ya sliding'and' pivotal connection between the single' end of the goose neck andsaid bar, a ladder'including a pair of side legs pivotally attachediatxtheir upper ends to the double ends ofzsaid goose neck which extend over andvoutof the upper berth, rungs pivotally secured at theirl opposite ends to said legs for facilitating the upward swinging ofthe legsupon the goose neck and their movement toward veach other, and'readily releasable means for securing the legs against swinging movement with respect to said goosev neck, said means consisting, of an arm pivotally attached atone end to one of the legs, a relatively right angular finger upon the opposite endof the arm, the other of saidlegs being-providedwithpan inclined slot with which said linger is engageable, and means associated with said'other leg for locking said finger within said slot.

3. In a ladder yfor, sleepingV car upper berths,a horizontal supporting bar arranged IDB within the upper berth adjacent the outer side thereof, a goose neck having one double end and one single end, a sliding and pivotal connection between the single end of the goose neck and said bar, a ladder comprising a pair of side legs pivotally attached at their upper ends to the double ends of said goose neck which extend over and out of the upper berth, rungs pvotally secured at their opposite ends to said legs to facilitate the upward swinging of the legs upon the goose neck and their movement toward each other, readily releasable meansl for securing the legs against swinging movement with respect `to said goose neck, said means consisting of an arm pivotally attach-edrat one end to one of said legs, the other of said legs adjacent its upper end being provided with an'inclined slot, a linger on said arm engageablewith said slot, and a dog pivoted to said other leg and having a notch engageable with said finger for retaining the latter within said slot.

4. In a sleeping berth ladder of the character described, a pairY of sid-e legs, spaced rungs arranged between the side legs and pivotally secured at their opposite ends to the legs `so as to facilitate the swinging of the legs toward each other, means for locking the legs against swinging movement, and means between the upper ends of the legs and the interior of the berth to permit the ladder to be swung into the berth when collapsed.

5. In a sleeping berth ladder of the character described, a pair of side legs, spaced rungs arranged between the side legs and pivotally secured at their opposite ends tothe legs so as to facilitate the swinging of the legs toward each other, means for locking the legs against swinging movement, means between the upper ends of the legs and the interior of the upper berth to permit the ladder to be swung into theA upper berth when collapsed, said means being Jurther adaptable to permit the longitudinal movement of the ladder with respect to said berth.

6. In combination a pivotally and slidably mounted support, a ladder including a pair of legs pivoted in relatively spaced relation at one end to said support, rungs pivotally connecting said legs, and releasable means for Vsecuring said legs in spaced parallelism.

In testimony whereot1 I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM S. GORDON. 

